Site Program (Design Criteria) & Schematic Design Workshop

Building Your Dream Cohousing Community

Programming is the process used to arrive at the set of criteria on which the design will be based and evaluated. This workshop is where the project is built—not brick by brick, but decision by decision.

This stage is when a common vocabulary for the project is created, and when preferences and requirements are determined and incorporated into the overall picture—before time is invested in design. It is when you, the future inhabitants, truly understand who you are, who you aspire to be, and how your future neighborhood can support your ultimate goal and vision.

One of the most important purposes of the program is to reduce the need for later backtracking, redesign, and added costs. Another important function of programming is to begin the process of building a tight-knit community. It must involve future residents; their participation crucially contributes to getting the criteria correct.

By the end of the workshop, participants will receive a program write-up document containing a detailed and prioritized list of criteria and program needs, which will guide the design and planning of their cohousing project. Participants will now have a clear understanding of how these criteria align with their vision and goals, ensuring that the project is tailored to meet both practical and aspirational needs. This list will be translated into specific requirements related to the size, location, and other key design qualities converted into a preliminary site plan that will be reviewed during the next workshop.